Keyboard for composing-machines.



C. E. BENHAM.

KEYBOARD FOR COMPOSING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. IGJIBM.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

MI 'IIII hwanior Cars Jenham CHARLES E. RRNHAM, or SCHENEGTADY, NEW YORK.

KEYBOARD FOR oo rosING-MAoHInns.

Application filcdApril 16, 1914.

To all who???) it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BENEAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of'Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyboards for Composing-Machines, of which the following is a specification. i V

The present invention relates to .the key boards of composing machines, and in particular to those of theLanston type. Such key boards as commonly constructed have a plurality of keys which are independently depressed and released by theoperator, one

key being used for each type, whether space or character. These keys control elastic fluid motors, all or the greater ma1ority ofwhich actuate punches that perforate a paper ribbon that is subsequently used in a casting machine inthe formation of type. In certain instances one or more punches are omitted from their corresponding motors because unnecessary. The actuation of each key, in addition to causing one or more motors and their punch rods to operate, causes the ribbon feeding mechanism to act and also the em rack and associated parts.

In prior patents of mine No. 1.099.734 dated June 9. 1914 and No. 1,106,538 dated August 11, 1914.1 have disclosed means whereby a given movement of one or more special keys, called repeating keys, will,

when moved to a predetermined position,

cause the motor or motors controlled the eby to repeat their actions indefinitely. When the moto s actuate punches, the paper ribbon will be perforated and the feed mecha nism will advance the ribbonstep-hy step between mo or operations. When the' punches are omitted the motors act as before and the paper ribbon is ad anced step-by-step but without perforations.

The cbiect of the present invention is to apply this repeating feature to all of the type, space. or character ke s on the board, or at least to as large a number as may be cons dered necessary or desirable. In other words. my aim is tomake every type, space, or charac er key a repeating ke so that any i'iredeterm ned t e. space, or character can be repeated indefinitely.

Another and important feature of the invention is to so construct and. arrange the parts that my improvement canbe applied Specification of Letters Patent.

- ciprocating motors 15. cylinder as it moves upwardly carries w th Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Serial No. 832,352.

to existing machines, of which there is a very large number in existence, without substantial change or rebuilding and at a relatively small expense.

Briefly stated, in carying out my invention I take the ordinary key board as it is found and add an extra key, called for con venience a repeating controller key, which is normally idle, but cooperates with each and all of the character keys for repetition work. I also add an auxiliary motor which acts in opposition to the individual motors of the punch carrying bars. This motor is regulated by the repeating controller ke the latter having two positions, an off when the machine works in its original way, and an on When the machine repeats whatever character is represented by the character key when it is depressed. I may, and preferably do, add a device for stopping the automatic repetition at any predetermined time, as for example. at the end of a line of the page to be printed, or at some intermediate point. as in tabular work. This device is operated in conjunction with the em rack pointer and serves to stop the auxiliary motor.

In the accompanying d awing which illustrates one of the embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a key board comprising mach'ne, and Fig. 2 is a d agrammatic view of the auxiliar motor and the parts immediately associated therewith.

Thedrawings are mo e or less diag ammatic to simplify. the; illustration and are no to scale.

9v indicates one of theman 'o dinary type, space, or character keys which. when depressed by the operator. m es a bar 10 ha ing projections on the under s de wh ch n turn move the rods 11 mounted on the rock shafts 12. A compwessed air chest 13 is p ovided, and mounted there n a e v les 14 which admit air to the c linde of the re- The p ston in each it the le er 16. bar 17. and punch 18. the lat ter perforating the paper ribbon 19. T he punches in most instances operate in pairs. but in some instances only one may operate at a time. In the case of the quad characte key it is commonpracticeto om t the punch from the bar because the corresponding perforation in the ribbon is unnecessary in the casting machine. The ribbon has marginal perforations 20 to receive the pins on thetwo die plates 23 that also serve to guide the air pressure under the piston tends at all times to hold the punch bars down but is over-powered by the motors 15 when the latter are active. Connected to the tension arm by a link is a lever 26 that assists in the opslide.

erati on of the so-called unit rack.

27 indicates a lever that is connected to the usual stop mechanism for the unit rack In the front of the machine is the usual em rack 30 carrying a pointer 31 that moves over the scale plate 32. Thus far the parts described are old.

Mounted on the tension arm either as an integral part, or fastened thereto, is an arm 33, the rear end of which is connected to a link 34 that cooperates with the piston 35 of the auxiliary motor 35, the latter being of sufiicient power to overcome motors 15 when assisted, for example, by the tension arm motor 25. In any event, the auxiliary motor 35 mustwhen active, ouickly overpower the motors 15. Surrounding the piston 35 of the auxiliary motor is a cylindrical valve 36 having inlet ports 37 and exhaust ports 38. The ports in the valve extend a substantial distance around it to insure proper operation. The upper end of the valve is provided with an internal shoulder that is enga ged by the piston in the position shown.

The lower end of the valve is also provided with an internal shoulder which is struck by the piston on its descent thus carrying the valve with it to control the ports, as will appear later. The valve will ordinarily mally held in its raised position by the coiled compression spring 40.

I have illustrated a type of motor suitable for mv present purposes. but the invention is not limited to the specific form shown unless so stated in the claims.

41 indicates any suitable type of two-way valve and 42a key or actuator therefor. For convenience the key 42 may be termed a repeating controller key. When standing in the position shown thersupply of compressed air to the valve casing by the pipe 43 is shutoff. When moved to the right, Fig. 2, air passes through the valve and pipe 44 to the cylinder of the auxiliary motor.

Interposed in the pipe 44 is a valve casing and valve 45, the latter being normally open, as shown in Fig. 2, and actuated by a rod and bell crank lever 46, the latter forming apart of a bar 47 extending across the front of the machine. "The bar has two alined pivots'48. On the bar are one or more suitable stops 49 having beveled upper faces that are adapted to be engaged by the finger 50 carried by the movable em rack 30. When the finger strikes one of the stops it depressesthe bar and causes the bell-crank lever and rod to shut thevalve 45- and thereby automaticall interrupt the passage of air'to the auxiliary motor. An extension spring or equivalent device, 51 normally holds the bar in its raised position and the val e 45 open.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As uming the repeating controller key 42 to he in the off position the operator depresses and releases thetype, space, or character keys 9. called for convenience normal keys. one after the other in the same manner as with any other Lanston machine. and the motors act toraise the bars 17 and also the punches 18 when said bars are provided with them. In any event, between each two similar movements of a motor and its bar the toothed'wheels 21 feed the paper ribbon 19 one step, usually equal to the'pitch distance of the marginal perforations 20,

and the em rack advances in the usual manner. 'l/Vhen the finger 50 strikes a stop it will depress the bar 47 and on the actuation of the next key slide over it. This movement of the bar is without effect, however, as the 7 air supply pipe 43 is closed and the imere 7 clos ng and opening of valve 45has no effect. Whenever a character key isdepressed and released the piston 35 mo es down and up, but this also has no effect because the air supply is cut off by the valve 41. now that the operator desires to repeat any character, the repeatingcontroller key 42 is moved to the on position. It may be so arranged that it is necessary to hold the key with one finger.v or it may be stablein either of its two'positions. Aftersetting, this key the operator depresses the desired character key, such as 9, with the result that its corre-- sponding motor, or moto s; 15 raise the punch carrying bars 17. This same action forces the piston 35 downward, first taking up the lo t motion between it and the internal shoulder of the valve, and then carrying Assuming inlet port 37 to theair in the pipe 44. This admits compressed air under the piston 35 and the latter coiiperating with the piston of motor starts the return movement of the tension arm 24 and pistons of motors l5, compressed air being under the latter pistonsbecause the character key is held depressed. Just before the piston reaches the upper limit of its travel it strikes the upper shoulder on the valve 36 and moves it upward with the effect of closing inlet; port37 and opening exhaust port 38. As soon as this happens the force exerted by the motors 15 predominates (compressed air acting on the under side of the pistons due to the position of the character key 9) and the punch bars again rise with the effect of imoving piston 35 of the auxiliary motor downward, and the repeating action goes on indefinitely until the character key is released, or until the automatic stopping device comes into play. The upward movement of the piston is, ofcourse, assisted to a certain extent by the spring which is under it. Said spring also serves to hold the piston and the lower end of rod 34 in contact. The stopping device comprises the pivotally supported bar 47 and cooperating parts. Assuming the device to be in operative position, the finger 50, when it has been moved by the em rack to a predetermined position, strikes one of the stops 49 which depresses the rod and causes the bell-crank lever 46 and rod to shut the valve 45, thus interrupting the supply of air to the auxiliary motor' and the latter stops and with it the automatic repetition. After this the repeating controllingkey may be returned to the off position or the repeater may be allowed to operate again after the downwardpressure on-bar 47 has' be n released.

My inventionhas the very great advantage of simplicity, and its use any standard key board machine can be readily converted into a re eating key board machine, in which any character can be repeated at will and as many times as is desired. By avoid;- inginterterence with the normal working the elhciency of operation is maintained, and. over and above that the amount of work done on the machine can be largely increased, particularly for tabular work. Due

to the repeating feature the strain on the operator is also greatly decreased. By arranging" the parts as shown the necessity of any substantial change orrebuilding isobviated. V

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but

I desire tohave'it imaersteod that the ap are controlled by the keys, each device makingone record for a given depression of the key, an auxiliary motor which is normally idle but acts on said devices in opposition to the other motors, and arepeating controller key for putting the auxiliary motor into and out of action.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of normal keys, motor actuated devices for making records which are controlled in theii operation by the keys, an auxiliary motor which is common to all of the devices and when energized acts in opposition to the record making movement of the particular device which responded to the movement of any particular key, and a repeating controller key for putting the auxiliary motor into and out of action.

3. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a plurality of movable normal keys, fluid motors controlled by the keys for-making records, means acting in opposition to the motors, and a key which, when moved to a predetermined position and a normal key is actuated. causes certainv of the motors and means to repeat a type character asdetermined by a normal key.

4. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a plurality of normal keys, motor actuated agents for making records that act in response to predetermined movements of the keys, a restoring eatin controller ke which when moved to a predetermined position, causes the means to repeat any character as determined by the actuation of any one of the normal key.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of punch bars, means for actuating them, mechanism for restoring the means to initial position. a plurality ofnormal keys acting individually to control different ele-' ments comprising said means, a motor arranged to act on all of said means, and a repeating controller key which, when moved to, a predetermined position, causes the motor to repeat any one of the characters as determined by a normal key. 1

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a punch bar, a fluid pressure motive agent for actuating it, mechanism for normally restoring the agent 'to its initial position, a normal key which,

when moved to a given position, causes the agent to act,,means arranged to act in opposition to the agent which are normally inactive, and a repeating controller key which, when moved to a predetermined position,

puts the means into action and causes it to. repeat a character as determined by the actuation of a normalkey.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of. punch bars, fluid motors for actuating them, mechanism for restoring the bars to initial position when pressure on the motors is released, a plurality of normal keys arranged individually to control difi'erent motors, a means which is normally idle and arranged to act on the bars in conjunction with said mechanism, and a repeating controller key which, when moved to a predetermined position, causes said means to act in conjunction wlth a fluid motor to repeat a character determined by the actuation of a normal key.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a punch bar, a fluid pressure motor for actuating it, mechanism for restoring the bar to place after actuation, a valve for the motor, a normal key for actuating the valve, an auxiliary fluld pressure motor arranged to act on the bar and which is normally idle, valve means for the auxiliary motor, and a repeating con- 7 troller key for moving the valve means to a position to cause the auxiliar motor to cooperate with the first named motor to repeat the character as determined by the normal tors to repeat a character as determined by a normal key.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of punch bars, a motor for each bar, a tension arm that is common to all of said bars, a motor'that tends at all times to restore all the bars to initial positioman auxiliary motor whose movable element isconnected to the tension arm, keys for controlling the first named motors in normal operation, and a repeating controller key which, when, moved to a predetermined position, causes the auxiliary motor to cooperate with the restoring motor to move a bar as determined by a normal key against the force exerted by its motor. f

12. In an apparatus of the character de-, scribed, the combination of a plurality of punch bars, motors for actuating thebars mechanism for restoring the bars to initial position, an auxiliary motor which is normally idle for causing repetition of the movements of said motors, a valve for the auxiliary motor which is moved by the movable element thereof, and a repeating key and valve for the auxiliary motor which, when moved to a predetermined position, starts it into operation.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a 'pluralityot movable normal keys, mechanism controlled thereby for making ribbonrecords, means causing the mechanism to repeat any given record as determined by the movement of a normal key, and means for automatically stopping the repetition after a predetermined number of records have been made.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of movable normal keys, mechanism responsive to key movementsfor making records on a ribbon, a repeating controller key cooperating with the normal keys to cause said mech-. anism to successively repeat the same record, and means for automatically stopping the repetition .by rendering the repeating key ineffective.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of movable normal keys, mechanism responsive to key movements for making records on a ribbon, a normally idle fluidmotor which] cooperates with the mechanism to cause repetition of the various type characters, a repeating key for controlling its operation, and valve means for automatically shutting off the supply of fluid to the motor when it is desired to stop repetition.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ota punch bar, a motor for actuating it. means for restoring the bar to initial position, a key for normally controlling the. motor, additional meansfor actuating the bar, a repeating controller key which cooperates with the. normal key to .cause said means to automatically actuate the bar, and a means for stopping theautomatic actuation of the bar.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a punch'bar, a motor for actuating it, means for restoring the bar to initial position, a key for normally controlling the motor, an auxiliary motor which is normally inactive for automatically actuating the bar, a repeating controller key to cause the auxiliary motor to automatically actuate the bar, and a means for cutting oh the supply of energy to the auxiliary motor after it, has actuated the bar a predetermined number of times.

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a punch bar, a motor for actuating it, means for restoring the bar to initial position, a key for normally controlling the motor, a fluid pressure motor that is normally idle for causing repetition of the bar operations, a repeating controller key and valve for admitting fluid pressure to the motor, a second valve interposed between the first and the motor, and means for actuating the second valve.

19. In an apparatus of .the character described, the combination of a plurality of punch bars, motors for actuating them, mechanism for restoring the bars to initial position, keys for normally controlling the motors, an em rack, an auxiliary motor for causing repetition of any given character as determined by a normal key, a pivotally supported bar in proximity to the rack, a device moving with the rack arranged to move the bar on its pivots, a repeating controller key for controlling the auxiliary motor, and means moved by the bar for taking the control of the auxiliary motor from the repeating key.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of valves each of which is opened by a key and closes when it is released, fluid motors controlled by the valves, devices actuated by the motors, a means for restoring each device to place after it has made a stroke, an auxiliary fluid motor which is normally idle but assists the restoring means when active, a Valve for controlling the supply of fluid to the auxiliary motor, and means for moving the valve.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of mechanism for making a plurality of ribbon records representing different characters, a plurality of normal keys, each representing a different character and which, when moved to operative position, causes the mechanism to make a ribbon record corresponding thereto, a motor which is idle during the normal operation of making ribbon records, but acts on the record forming part of said mechanism to cause repetition on the ribbon record of all of said characters as represented by the normal keys, and a key for putting the m0- tor into action whereby it acts on said mech- Gopies of. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the anism to reproduce a ribbon record corresponding to that of the last normal key actuated.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of punches for making records, motors for moving the punches on their cutting stroke, a plurality of keys for controlling the motors during normal operation, a normally idle auxiliary motor which, when energized, retracts the punches in opposition to the force exerted by one or more motors, and a repeating controller key which controls the action of the auxiliary motor.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of punches for making records, motors for moving the punches on their cutting strokes, a plurality of normal keys for controlling them, means for retracting the punches when the motors are deenergized during normal operation. a plurality of normal keys for controlling the motors, an auxiliary motor means common to the punches which, when energized, move the'punch or punches that have responded to the action of a normal key in opposition to said motors, and a repeating controller key for the auxiliary motor means.

24. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of punches for making records, elastic fluid motors for actuating the punches, controlling valves therefor, normal keys acting on the valves by means of which the motors are caused to actuate their cooperating punches once for every predetermined movement thereof, an auxiliary motor that is normally idle, a member for retracting the punches, a motor for actuating it, a power transmitting eonnection between the auxiliary motor and the member, and a key which, when operated simultaneously with a normal key, causes the motor or motors controlled by said normal key to repeat its operation.

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of punches for making ribbon records, motors for operating them individually, means for retracting the punches when the motors are deenergized, a normally idle means which, when energized, cooperates with the retracting means to move the punches against the action of the motors, keys for controlling the motors, and a key controlling said normally idle means, the said keys acting together to cause repetition of any desired character.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth dav of April, 1914.

CHARLES E, BENHAM. Witnesses:

EUGENE VAN DYKE, AUGUSTA SCHURICK.

Commissioner 01' Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

